A neck lift tightens loose skin and the underlying platysma muscle of the neck, and can remove excess fat beneath the chin, to create a more defined jawline and neck contour. Because neck and lower-face ageing usually happen together, a neck lift is often performed as part of a deep plane face and neck lift.
Price: Neck lift from £12,500 · Consultation £150, charged separately · Full price list
What is a neck lift?
With age, the skin of the neck loses elasticity, the thin sheet of muscle called the platysma separates and forms visible vertical bands, and fat can gather under the chin. The result is a softer jawline, a blunted angle between the chin and neck and, for some, a ‘turkey neck’. A neck lift, or lower rhytidectomy, addresses these layers: it can tighten and repair the platysma muscle, remove or reposition fat, and redrape and trim excess skin. Non-surgical treatments such as anti-wrinkle injections or skin-tightening devices may help mild changes, but they cannot remove significant loose skin.
Who is a neck lift suitable for?
A neck lift may suit adults aged 18 and over, most commonly from their 40s onwards, who are bothered by loose neck skin, visible neck bands or fullness under the chin, and who are in good health and non-smokers or willing to stop. Younger patients with good skin tone and fullness mainly due to fat may be better suited to chin and neck liposuction alone. If jowls and lower-face laxity are also present, Mr Nassab will usually discuss combining the neck lift with a facelift, as treating the neck alone may leave the face and neck looking unbalanced.
Techniques
- Platysmaplasty: through a small incision under the chin, the separated edges of the platysma muscle are brought together to tighten the neck and reduce banding.
- Submental liposuction or fat removal: excess fat under the chin is removed, either by liposuction or direct excision where appropriate.
- Lateral neck lift: incisions around and behind the ears allow the skin and deeper tissues to be lifted backwards and excess skin removed.
- Deep plane face and neck lift: the deeper supporting layers of the face and neck are released and repositioned together, addressing jowls, jawline and neck in one operation.
The right combination depends on your anatomy, and Mr Nassab will explain the options and the scars involved.
What happens on the day
A neck lift is usually performed under general anaesthetic, sometimes with an overnight stay, and typically takes two to three hours on its own or longer when combined with a facelift. Mr Nassab will mark the incisions and confirm the plan. Afterwards a light dressing or supportive chin strap is applied, and small drains may be used. You will be advised to rest with your head elevated and to avoid bending your neck forward sharply.
Recovery timeline
- First week: swelling, bruising and a feeling of tightness under the chin and around the ears are normal. Keep your head elevated and avoid strenuous activity.
- Weeks 1–2: stitches are removed and bruising fades. Many people feel comfortable being seen in public after about two weeks.
- Weeks 2–4: most return to work and normal social activities, though some swelling remains.
- Weeks 4–6: gradual return to exercise as advised.
- 3–12 months: residual swelling and firmness under the chin gradually settle, and scars fade.
Timings are typical and recovery is often longer when combined with a facelift.
Risks and possible complications
Risks include bleeding and haematoma, which can require a return to theatre and is the most important early complication to watch for; infection; seroma; visible or thickened scars; numbness of the skin of the neck and around the ears; irregularity or tethering of the skin; residual banding; asymmetry; and, rarely, injury to the nerve that controls the lower lip, which usually recovers. General risks include anaesthetic reactions and blood clots. Contact your surgical team urgently if you notice rapidly increasing swelling or pain on one side of the neck, and call 999 for any difficulty breathing.
Results and cost
A neck lift aims to give a smoother neck and a crisper jawline. Results are long-lasting, but the tissues continue to age naturally. The final result is usually seen at six to twelve months. A neck lift costs from £12,500; your final quote depends on which techniques are needed and is confirmed after assessment. A neck lift is often combined with facial rejuvenation as a deep plane face and neck lift, from £18,500. The consultation fee of £150 is separate.
Why choose Mr Nassab
Mr Reza Nassab FRCS (Plast) is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon on the GMC Specialist Register for Plastic Surgery (GMC 4704243). He is a Council member of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) and Chair of the ISAPS Social Media Working Group, and consults in Manchester, Knutsford (Cheshire) and London. He will assess your face and neck together and advise on the approach he considers most appropriate, including when a smaller procedure or no surgery is the better choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you have a neck lift without a facelift?
Yes, if the changes are limited to the neck. However, most people with loose neck skin also have some jowling, and combining the procedures often gives a more balanced result.
Where are the neck lift scars?
Usually a small scar under the chin and, if skin is removed, scars around and behind the ears that are hidden in natural creases and the hairline where possible.
Will a neck lift remove neck bands?
Tightening the platysma muscle aims to reduce visible bands, although some banding may persist or recur with time.
Is chin liposuction an alternative?
For younger patients with good skin elasticity and fat under the chin, liposuction alone may be enough. It does not tighten loose skin or muscle bands.
How long does a neck lift last?
Results are long-lasting, but ageing continues. Many people find their neck still looks better than it would have done without surgery many years later.
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